Apparatus for weighing and dispensing material



D86. 1964 c. L. ZIMMERMAN 3, 5

APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING AND DISPENSING MATERIAL Filed March 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig, 2

Dec. 1, 1964 c. L. ZIMMERMAN 3,159,225

APPARATUS FOR wmcams AND DISPENSING MATERIAL Filed March 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,159,225 APPARATUS FOR WEIGHFNG AND DISPENSING MATERIAL Charles L. Zimmerman, R.F.l). 1, Northfield Township, Rice County, Minn. Filed Mar. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 268,710 3 Claims. (Cl. 1'77--1tl7) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically weighing and dispensing fluent material, such as grain, and more particularly it has reference to a hopper construction and means for automatically feeding fixed amounts of fluent material into the hopper and discharging it thereform.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a relatively simple yet eflicient means for automatically feeding predetermined amounts of fluent material into a hopper and discharging it therefrom.

Another object is to provide in an apparatus of the type described a hopper construction which can be easily adapted to and combined with a conventional platform scale so as to form a compact, automatic weighing and dispensing device for fluent materials.

A further object is to provide in an apparatus of the type described a hopper discharge door and associated latch construction which is simple in structure, yet eflicient and dependable in operation.

These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combinationof parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hopper and weighing scale embodying my invention, with the discharge door in open position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, with the discharge door in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof.

FIG. 4 shows the electrical circuit diagram.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a latch detail.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the drawings wherein indicates, generally, a hopper having the front wall 11, the rear wall 12 and the two side walls 13. A bottom 14 extends downwardly and forwardlyfrom the lower part of the relatively short rear wall 12 to the lower edge of a discharge opening 15 formed in the lower portion of the front wall 11. The discharge opening 15 is closed by a door 16 which is hinged to the front wall 11 by a hinge 17 connected to the upper edge of the door 16 and to the front wall 11 so that the door 16 may swing outwardly when the contents of the hopper are to be discharged.

The door 16 is held is closed position by latch means comprising a pair of brackets 18 which are secured,respectively, to the two side walls 13 adjacent to the lower portion of the discharge opening 15. Mounted on the lower portion of the front side of the door 16 adjacent to the respective edges thereof are the two support members 19 having vertical slots 20 in which the latch bar 21 is mounted for vertical movement into and out of locking engagement with the notches 22 formed on the upper edges of the brackets 18.

Mounted on the front side of wall 11 above hinge 17, are the two spaced electro-magnetic means such as the solenoids 23. The vertically movable armatures or plungers (not shown) of the solenoids are connected by flexible means, such as link chains 24, to the latch bar 21. When the solenoids 23' are energized, the latch bar 21 is raised out of locking engagement with the brackets 18 and the door 16 is raised to a partially open position, as shown in FIG. 1, to permit discharge of the contents of the hopper. The door 16 is held in open position'as long as 3,159,225 Patented Dec. 1, 1964 ICC the solenoids 23 are energized through the operation of time control means to be described hereinafter. A baflie plate 25 is secured by suitable means to the inner side of the front wall 11 above the discharge opening 15 and extends throughout the length or" the opening. The lower portion of the baffle plate 25 extends inwardly and downwardly so as to overhang the upper portion of the discharge opening 15. The bafiie plate 25 not only prevents the fluent material from fouling up the hinge 17 but also directs such material downwardly and into the stream flowing along the bottom 14 and out of the hopper.

Supporting means, such as a hollow triangular-shaped sheet metal structure 26, serves to support the hopper 10 on the horizontal platform 27 of a conventional platform scale having a base 28 and the upright column 29. The bottom 14 of thehopper rests on the hypotenuse portion 30 of the supporting structure 26 so that the discharge opening 15 is located at the front edge of the scale platform 27 and the upper rear portion of the hopper overhangs the casing 31 which encloses the weigh beam 32 and is carried by the column 29. With this structure, the hopper 16 can be readily adapted to and combined with a conventional platform scale so as to provide an efiicient, compact unit,

Fluent material, such as grain. to be fed in predetermined amounts to livestock or poultry, for example, may be supplied to the hopper 10 by means of a conventional auger, not shown, mounted within conduit 33 and actuated byan electric motor indicated at M on FIG. 4. Electrical current from lead wires 34 operates the'auger motor M and the two solenoids 23 through the control of micro switches A, B and C, the timer T and the switch D. The micro switches A and B are mounted adjacent to the vertically movable weigh beam 32 and have actuating elements in the path of the beam. The micro switch C is mounted on the hopper adjacent to the door 16 and has an actuating element in the path of the door.

When the weigh beam 32 is in down position, switch A is closed and switch B isopen. When the weigh beam is in up position, switch A is open and switch B is closed. When the door 16 is closed, the micro switch C is closed and when the door 16 is open the switch C is open.

,At the beginning of a typical operational cycle, the hopper 10 isempty, the door 16 is closed and the weigh beam 32 is in,down position, since it has been weighted to measure a'predetermined amount of fluent material, such asgrain, for example. With such a position of the weigh beam 32 and door 16, the micro switches A and C are both closed Hence, when switch D is closed manually, the motor M will be actuated to feed fluent material into the hopper. When the predetermined amount of material is in the hopper, the weigh beam 32 will move to the up position and thereby open switch A to stop motor M and close switch B to energize the solenoids 23 and thereby raise the latch bar 21 and partially open door 16 to permit discharge of the grain from the hopper 10. The closing of switch B also starts the timer T which can be adjusted selectively to control the circuit for a predetermined time, such as from one. to sixty seconds, for example. The timer T is set to keep the solenoids 23 energized long enough to permit discharge of all the material from the hopper.

If the weigh beam 32 moves to the down position before the hopper 10 is completely empty, the timer T will over-ride the closing of switch B and thereby keep the solenoids 23 energized so that the door 16 is held open. Although the weigh beam 32 when in down position also closes switch A, the operation of motor M will not commence until the switch C is also closed. Hence, the motor M will not operate to feed fluent material into'the hopper 16 unless the door 16 and its associated switch C are both closed. When the solenoids 23 are de-energized, the combined weights of the door 16 and the attached latch structure move the door 16 to a closed position with the latch bar in locking engagement with the brackets 18. With the switch D in closed position, successive cycles of hopper filling and discharge will take place.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide an improved apparatus for automatically weighing and dispens ing fluent'materials, such as grain. Because of the simple construction of the discharge door, latching means and associated electrical circuits, eflicient, trouble-free operation is assured. The hopper may be constructed of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, and its construction is such that it can be readily adapted for use on a conventional platform scale. The upper rear portion of the hopper overhangs the weigh beam of the scale and thereby provides an eflicient, compact unit. A plurality of hopper-scale units may be used in juxtaposition for automatically weighing and discharging predetermined amounts of different feed ingredients into a mixing bin for the feeding of livestock or poultry, for example. Various modifications may, obviously, be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for weighing and dispensing fluent material comprising a scale having a platform and a vertically movable weigh beam, a hopper supported on the platform, said hopper having a discharge opening at its lower portion, a door hinged at its upper portion for closing the opening, latch means for holding the door in closed position, electro-magnetic means for selectively releasing the latch means and opening and holding the door in open position, said door being constructed and arranged to close by gravity upon de-energizing of the electromagnetic means, electrically operated feeding means for feeding fluent material into the hopper, first and second switches having their control elements mounted in the path of the weigh beam, said first switch being operative to close the circuit to operate the feeding means when the weigh beam is in down position, said second switch being operative to energize the electromagnetic means to open the door when the weigh beam is in up position, timing means to keep the electro-magnetic means energized for a predetermined time independently of the position of the weigh beam, and a third switch in the path of and actuated by said door to permit operation of said feeding means only when said door is closed.

2. Apparatus for weighing and dispensing fluent material comprising a scale having a platform and a vertically movable weigh beam, a hopper supported on said platform, said hopper having a front wall provided with a discharge opening at the lower portion thereof, a door for closing said opening, said door being hinged to the front wall and adapted to swing outwardly, latch means for holding the door in closed position, said latch means comprising a pair of brackets carried, respectively, by the sides of the hopper adjacent to the door, a latch bar mounted for vertical movement on the lower front portion of the door to engage notches formed in said brackets, a pair of solenoids mounted on the front wall above the door, flexible means connecting the solenoids to the latch bar whereby energization of the solenoids will raise the latch bar and open the door and hold it in open position, electrically operated feeding means for feeding fluent material into the hopper, first and second switches having their control elements positioned in the path of the weigh beam, said first switch being operative to close the circuit to render the feeding means operative when the weigh beam is in down position, said second switch being operative to energize the solenoids to release the latch bar and open the door when the weigh beam is in up position, timing means to keep the solenoids energized independently of the position of the weigh beam, and a third switch mounted adjacent to and operated by the door to permit operation of said feeding means only when the door is closed.

3. In a hopper construction, a front wall provided with a discharge opening at the lower portion thereof, a door for closing said opening, hinge means connecting the upper edge portion of the door to said wall whereby the door may swing outwardly to permit discharge of fluent material from the hopper, latch means for holding the door in closed position, said latch means comprising a pair of forwardly extending brackets carried, respectively, by the sides of the hopper adjacent to the lower portion of the opening, a latch bar mounted for vertical movement on the lower front portion of the door to engage the brackets, said latch bar and brackets having coacting portions for effecting locking engagement when the bar is lowered onto the brackets, solenoids means mounted on the front wall above the hinge means and link chain means connecting the solenoid means to the latch bar whereby actuation of the solenoid means will raise the latch bar out of locking engagement and open the door to permit discharge of the contents of the hopper.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner. LEO SMILOW, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING AND DISPENSING FLUENT MATERIAL COMPRISING A SCALE HAVING A PLATFORM AND A VER TICALLY MOVABLE WEIGH BEAM, A HOPPER SUPPORTED ON THE PLATFORM, SAID HOPPER HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AT ITS LOWER PORTION, A DOOR HINGED AT ITS UPPER PORTION FOR CLOSING THE OPENING, LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING THE DOOR IN CLOSED POSITION, ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY RELEASING THE LATCH MEANS AND OPENING AND HOLDING THE DOOR IN OPEN POSITION, SAID DOOR BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO CLOSE BY GRAVITY UPON DE-ENERGIZING OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDING FLUENT MATERIAL INTO THE HOPPER, FIRST AND SECOND SWITCHES HAVING THEIR CONTROL ELEMENTS MOUNTED IN THE PATH OF THE WEIGH BEAM, SAID FIRST SWITCH BEING OPERATIVE TO CLOSE THE CIRCUIT TO OPERATE THE FEEDING MEANS WHEN THE WEIGH BEAM IS IN "DOWN" POSITION, SAID SECOND SWITCH BEING OPERATIVE TO ENERGIZE THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MEANS TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE WEIGH BEAM IS IN "UP" POSITION, TIMING MEANS TO KEEP THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MEANS ENERGIZED FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME INDEPENDENTLY OF THE POSITION OF THE WEIGH BEAM, AND A THIRD SWITCH IN THE PATH OF AND ACTUATED BY SAID DOOR TO PERMIT OPERATION OF SAID FEEDING MEANS ONLY WHEN SAID DOOR IS CLOSED. 